132. Well done, we say

Theodore and Oscar were quite impressed with the castle that they had built with Timmy and stood up to admire it.  They were all so busy that they had not noticed the crowd of people gathering around to watch the fun and were most surprised to hear applause.  "Well done, Sonny and your Bear helpers," they called out and somebody began singing, "For they are jolly good fellows."  Theodore and Oscar and Timmy hardly knew what to do so they just smiled and bowed and waved to the people.  The next surprise was not long in coming as before they knew it, the people had a wave rush in around their feet and it lapped right up to the wall of the castle before it receeded. Timmy quickly picked up his bucket and spade. "Thank you so much, Theodore and Oscar Bear, it was such fun to build a sandcastle with you but I must go home now. Good-bye," and he held out a little hand to shake paws with his new friends.  "Good-bye, Timmy, keep on building lovely big sandcastles like this. Thank you for showing us how to do it too," and they waved as Timmy ran on.

131. Accomplished Builders

Timmy filled his bucket with sand and turned it upside down on the corner of the pile of sand.  "This is for the tower," he said stacking yet more sand on top of it, "and this must be shaped round like a real tower roof."  Theodore and Oscar were learning all about building a sandcastle and they were having fun doing it.  Soon the roof and the tower were complete.  "Now we have to draw the doors and windows on the sides," Timmy told them and they each chose a side to work on.  Timmy clapped his hands with pleasure when it was all done. "The castle still needs the big wall around it," he said and dug up some more sand for Theodore and Oscar to start shaping before he came to help them. "Our castle should have a flag," said Timmy thoughtfully and looked around on the sand.  "Oh, there is a piece of seaweed.  It is nearly the right shape for a flag. We can use that."  He ran over to fetch it and stuck it in the space between the castle and the wall.  "Perfect," he said.

130. Under Construction

Theodore and Oscar smiled and stood up.  "Yes, we will help you build your sandcastle but you will have to tell us how to do it," they told Timmy as they walked down to the wet sand together. Timmy walked between them and asked the bears if they can swim, if they can surf and if they can use a fishing pole. "You have to put fat worms on to catch a big fish," he told them wisely, "and then you can fry the fish for supper.  Let's build here."  They all sat down on the sand and planned where the castle should be. Timmy said, "First of all we have to scrape a lot of sand together to make the castle.  Look, like this."  He began to dig in the sand with his spade and Theodore and Oscar helped to form it into a big square pile with their paws. "I have built many sandcastles with my Daddy so I know what to do," said Timmy trying to sound like an expert, "we can slope the top of the pile to make it like a roof with a point."  Slowly but surely the sandcastle was taking shape. They could do it nearly as well as Timmy could with his spade.  Then Timmy filled his bucket with sand and turned it upside down on top of the pile.  "This is for the tower," he said, "now we must shape it nicely with our hands. A tower must have a round roof, then we have to build the tower on the side and shape it.  After that we have to draw the doors and windows and do a big strong wall all around it."

129. Construction Plans

Oscar Bear wondered who Theodore was talking to and sat up to look. He was amazed to see a little boy sitting on the sand with a serious expression on his face.  Timmy looked over at Oscar and was not sure what to do but Oscar smiled and said, "Hello Sonny."  Theodore turned to Oscar and said, "This is Timmy and he is six years old. He wanted to see if we are real bears.  Timmy, this is my friend, Oscar Bear."  "Hello Oscar," said Timmy, "Theodore says he does not know how to build a sandcastle. Can you build one?  I can show you both how."  And without waiting Timmy jumped up and ran over to fetch his bucket and spade from where he had left it. "The sand is too dry here so we need to go nearer the water," Timmy said when he came back, "will you build a sandcastle with me over there?  A very big one with a tower and a wall around it?  Will you? Please!" he begged.

128. A Visitor

Theodore slowly lifted the brim of his hat with his paw to see what was tapping on his shoulder.  A small face was peeping back at him.  "Hello," said a voice quietly.  Theodore sat up and pushed the hat backwards onto his head.  A little boy was sitting cross-legged on the sand next to him. "Hello," he said again, "I am Timmy and I am six years old. Are you really a bear?" Theodore could hardly believe his eyes but he smiled and said, "Hello Timmy, yes I am a real genuine bear and my name is Theodore.  If you shake my paw you can feel my soft fur," and he held out his paw in greeting.  Timmy shook it and then stroked over Theodore's fur.  "I have never met a real bear before," he said, "what are you doing here at the beach?"  "I have come to enjoy being at the seaside just like you," Theodore told him, "this is a first time for me."  "Can you build a sandcastle?" asked Timmy.  "A sandcastle?   No, I have never done that before. Can you build one, Timmy?" Theodore asked.